# US 4,396,189 A · Exercising machine, skiing teaching machine and skiing simulator

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- Number: US 4,396,189 A
- Document ID: US4396189A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/238,488
- Filed: 1981-02-26
- Granted: 1983-08-02
- Earliest claimed: 1981-02-26
- Inventors: G. William Jenkins
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4396189A

## CPC

- A63B 69/18: for skiing
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## Abstract

This is an exercising, skiing teaching and skiing simulating machine constructed for use at home, or in a ski shop or in any other place inside or outside of a building, at or away from the ski slopes. The machine has foot support surfaces on which a person stands which are suspended below horizontal axes of rotation. The foot support surfaces are suspended from arms pivotally mounted on a rotating platform which is supported in a floor-mounted frame. The pivots supporting the arms are vertical and are adjustable with relation to the axis of rotation of the platform. Stop pins are provided for limiting or locking rotation of the platform, and for limiting or locking the rotation of the arms. Elastic cords are also provided for applying biasing forces to the arms which create resistance to a person's motion. Sensors are also provided for sensing and signalling incorrect motions. The frame includes hand supports for the person's hands. The machine is useful for exercising and practicing skiing. Also for trying out ski boots and ski clothing. The upward offset position of the horizontal axes of rotation relative to the boot holes, toward the person's ankles, causes the ankles to be so engaged during exercises performed on the machine that the similarity of sensations to those of actual skiing is enhanced.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An exercising and skiing simulating machine of the type which includes a substantially horizontal rotating platform and two boot support surfaces independently rotatably suspended therefrom my horizontal front to rear axes and by vertical axes means, further comprising the improvement of:
vertical downward offset of the boot support surfaces relative to the said horizontal front to rear axes by a distance equal approximately to the vertical distance from the boot sole to the ankle joint of a person.

### Claim 2

An exercising and skiing simulating machine of the type having a floor supported frame, a substantially horizontal rotatable platform supported by the frame, vertical pivots attached to the platform, arms pivotally supported by the pivots and boot support surfaces suspended from the arms by horizontal front to rear axes further comprising the improvement of:
adjustable support means for attaching the pivots to the platform; and offsetting of the boot support surfaces vertically downward relative to the horizontal front to rear axes by a distance equal to the approximate distance from the boot sole to the ankle joint of a person.

### Claim 3

An exercising and skiing simulating machine comprising a frame which stands on the floor, a substantially horizontal rotatable platform, supported by the frame, vertical pivots adjustably attached to the platform, arms rotatably connected to the pivots, boot support surfaces suspended from the arms by horizontal front to rear axes and being offset below the level of the horizontal front to rear axes by a distance of more than one-half inch and less than ten inches.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2, 3)

A machine in accordance with claims 1, 2 or 3 further comprising moveable foot carriers which are moveably connected with the boot support surfaces for planear motion relative thereto in a planes that are perpendicular to the boot support surfaces.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2, 3)

A machine according to claims 2 or 3 further comprising mechanical biasing means for applying forces to the arms causing them to tend to rotate around the pivot.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2, 3)

A machine according to claims 2 or 3, further comprising means for adjustably inclining the substantially horizontal rotatable platform.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2, 3)

A machine according to claims 2 or 3, further comprising means for locking the rotatable platform from rotating in a selected one of a plurality of positions.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1, 3)

A machine according to claims 1 or 3, further comprising means for locking the arms for rotating around the vertical pivots in selected ones of a plurality of positions.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1, 3)

A machine according to claims 1 or 3, further comprising means for securely attaching the boots of a person to the boot support surfaces.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2, 3)

A machine according to claims 2 or 3, further comprising padded frame means.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2, 3)

A machine according to claims 2 or 3, further comprising a frame constructed for supporting the hands of a person using the machine.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2, 3)

A machine according to claims 2 or 3, further comprising sensing means arranged for sensing particular positions of the body of a person using the machine.

### Claim 13 (depends on 2, 3)

A machine according to claims 2 or 3, further comprising means for stopping the rotation of the rotating platform at limiting positions.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A machine according to claim 13 further comprising cushioning means incorporated into the means for stopping the rotation of the platform at limiting positions.

### Claim 15

An exercising and skiing simulating machine comprising a floor mounted frame supporting a substantially horizontal rotating platform and vertical pivots adjustably attached to the platform and boot support surfaces rotatably suspended by horizontal front to rear and vertical axes from the pivots with the boot support surfaces being offset downward in relation to the said horizontal front to rear axes by distances equal to approximately the vertical distance from the boot sole to the ankle joint of a person.

### Claim 16

An exercising machine and skiing teaching machine comprising:
a frame which stands on the floor;
a substantially vertical axis of rotation defined by a vertical spindle tiltably adjustably attached to the frame;
a pair of hand rails as integral parts of the frame;
a horizontal rotating platform supported by the vertical spindle to rotate around the substantially vertical axis of rotation;
a pair of rotation limiting stopping means attached to the horizontal rotating platform;
a pair of vertical pivots attached adjustably to the horizontal rotating platform;
a pair of horizontal arms independently rotatably mounted respectively on the horizontal rotating platform by the pair of vertical pivots;
a pair of horizontal front to rear axes, defined by the pair of horizontal arms;
a pair of boot support members respectively each being rotatably mounted on one of the horizontal arms by means of the horizontal front to rear axes;
a pair of moveable boot carriers respectively supported by the pair of boot support members in a manner that permits limited vertical motion and horizontal motion of each moveable boot carrier with respect to its related boot support member parallel with the plane that contains the related horizontal front to rear axes and which is perpendicular to the related boot support surface;
a pair of boot support surfaces, each being a part respectively of one of the moveable boot carriers and each being displaced vertically downward with respect to its corresponding horizontal front to rear axis a distance approximately equal to the ankle height of a person which is, more specifically, a distance of between three and one-half inches and six inches;
a means to securely attach each of the user's boots, shoes or feet to a respective moveable boot carrier.